Cocktail bars are crowded during Tales of the Cocktail, July 17–21. Bartenders, cocktail enthusiasts and liquor industry insiders are flocking to the handful of places known for carefully crafting the best drinks. So should local drinkers opt to stay far away during Tales?

Even though Cure (4905 Freret St.) is far from Tales' center in the French Quarter, it's become a regular stop. A shuttle bus again this year will ferry Tales attendees to Freret Street. Neal Bodenheimer, owner of Cure, also thinks it's worthwhile for locals to wade through the crowds.

"It's a great time," Bodenheimer said, "if you want to see us roll out our most adventurous menus of the year." Cure will feature radically updated New Orleans classics along with straight-ahead renditions of the same using very expensive spirits.

"We'll take some of the old things that we sit on for most of the year and start to release them," Bodenheimer said. For example, Cure will put its collection of rare and sought after Pappy Van Winkle bourbons on the menu. "If you love spirits, there is no better time to come here."

Not everyone, however, will be pleased with the style of service at cocktail bars during Tales, Bodenheimer warns.

"If you're talking about getting the bartender when they have 30 minutes to talk to you," he said, "this is not the greatest time."